TBT: The 1976 Bertone Rainbow Was a Wild Rebodied Ferrari

Some tales of old cars are best left under old covers collecting dust like an old shop desk. They're forgotten and eventually fall out of the automotive timeline that has countless memorable stops along the way. Cars designed by Bertone don't usually meet that disheartening fate, especially one based on a Ferrari that changed the course of Italian automobiles.
Through the years, Bertone has crafted three Ferraris. The 1974 208/308 GT4 was the only production model. The 1959 250 GT SWB Competition Berlinetta Speciale and the 1976 Rainbow were concept cars. The Rainbow is actually based on the 308 GT, but its unique retracting hard-top design made it truly one of the first of its kind. The idea was that you could have two cars–both a spider and a coupé in one.
PHOTOS: See More Photos of the Rebodied Ferrari 308 GT Bertone Rainbow
The 2+2 308, at the time, was completely new territory for Ferrari. The engineers at the Italian company might not have known it, but it presented a formula that would be used for years to come. It was the first mid-engined V8 Ferrari. Couple that with its compact targa top and an extremely angular design years ahead of its time, and you had one shocking package.
RELATED: See images of the 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB
There are so many intriguing pieces to this Marcello Gandini-penned puzzle. The slanted u-shaped rear light bar, the wheels that could double as kettle grills, the slicing rear wheel arches, or even the roof design itself. It all debuted at the 1976 Turin Motor Show.
RELATED: Ferrari 308 is a Forgotten Gem of Group B
The best part of looking at this car has nothing to do with Ferrari, though. Any other car come to mind when you stare at those angles? Something like a, oh, I don't know, Pontiac Fiero? Same thing, right?
RELATED: See Photos of the 1967 Bertone Lamborghini Marzal
Photo credit: Classic Driver
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